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Maps · head to head

Correlator3D vs OpenLayers

Correlator3D logo

Correlator3D

Maps

SimActive photogrammetry with a published price list and a perpetual licence still on sale

From
$295/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OpenLayers logo

OpenLayers

Maps

High-performance, feature-packed JavaScript library for creating interactive maps on the web with

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only OpenLayers has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Correlator3D the standard licence caps at 61 megapixel sensors, so an operator moving to a medium or large format camera has to buy a different and separately quoted licence rather than paying an upgrade fee.; OpenLayers no commercial support included; community-driven library
  • They diverge on capability: Correlator3D covers Aerial triangulation, OpenLayers covers Core Functionality.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Correlator3D and OpenLayers actually diverge.

Attributes where Correlator3D and OpenLayers differ
AttributeCorrelator3DOpenLayers
Starting price$295/monthFree
Pricing modelOne-time purchaseopen-source
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindowsWeb

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Maps).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Correlator3D

  • Aerial triangulation
  • DSM and DTM generation
  • Orthomosaic production
  • Point cloud and 3D mesh output
  • Feature extraction
  • GPU acceleration
  • Satellite imagery support
  • Batch and unattended processing

Only in OpenLayers

  • Core Functionality
  • User Interface

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Correlator3D

  • An aerial survey company processing large photographic blocks where per-project cloud credits would be more expensive than owning a licencenot OpenLayers
  • A national or regional mapping agency that needs software it can run offline on classified or restricted imagerynot OpenLayers
  • A drone service provider producing bare-earth terrain models for volumetrics and corridor mapping at high throughputnot OpenLayers
  • An organisation that wants a perpetual licence because a multi-year subscription cannot be justified against its capital budgeting rulesnot OpenLayers

OpenLayers

  • Embedding interactive maps showing store locations on retail websitesnot Correlator3D
  • Visualizing GPS tracking data for delivery routes on web dashboardsnot Correlator3D
  • Creating choropleth maps displaying regional sales performancenot Correlator3D
  • Building mapping interfaces for real estate property searchesnot Correlator3D

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Correlator3D

  • The standard licence caps at 61 megapixel sensors, so an operator moving to a medium or large format camera has to buy a different and separately quoted licence rather than paying an upgrade fee.
  • It is Windows desktop only with no cloud processing option, so throughput is bounded by the workstation and GPU you buy, and there is no way to burst capacity for one large job.
  • There is no collaboration layer, client portal or field application, so deliverable sharing, review and version control all have to be handled by other software.
  • The interface and workflow are built for photogrammetry specialists; an occasional drone operator will find the learning curve steeper than a consumer-oriented mapping package.
  • The perpetual licence includes only one year of support and updates, and staying current afterwards means paying maintenance, so the headline $5,900 is not the whole long-term cost.

OpenLayers

  • No commercial support included; community-driven library

Pricing, plan by plan

Correlator3D

$295/month
  • Monthly subscription$295/month
    • Unlimited images
    • Sensors up to 61 megapixels
    • All modules and tools
  • Yearly subscription$2950/year
    • Unlimited images
    • Sensors up to 61 megapixels
    • All modules and tools
  • Permanent licence$5900/one-time
    • Perpetual licence
    • Unlimited images up to 61 megapixels
    • All modules and tools
  • Permanent floating licence$6400/one-time
    • Perpetual floating licence shared across machines
    • Unlimited images up to 61 megapixels
    • One year of support and updates included

OpenLayers

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the OpenLayers review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Correlator3D if

  • You need aerial triangulation.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want dsm and dtm generation.
Correlator3D review

Choose OpenLayers if

  • You need core functionality.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want user interface.
OpenLayers review

Questions people ask

Is Correlator3D or OpenLayers better?
Neither clearly leads. Correlator3D starts at $295/month and OpenLayers at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Correlator3D or OpenLayers?
OpenLayers has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $295/month for Correlator3D and Free for OpenLayers.
Does Correlator3D or OpenLayers run on more platforms?
Correlator3D runs on Windows. OpenLayers runs on Web.
Can I use OpenLayers for free?
Yes. OpenLayers has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Correlator3D starts at $295/month.
What is Correlator3D best used for?
Correlator3D is most often used for an aerial survey company processing large photographic blocks where per-project cloud credits would be more expensive than owning a licence, a national or regional mapping agency that needs software it can run offline on classified or restricted imagery, a drone service provider producing bare-earth terrain models for volumetrics and corridor mapping at high throughput, an organisation that wants a perpetual licence because a multi-year subscription cannot be justified against its capital budgeting rules. Of those, an aerial survey company processing large photographic blocks where per-project cloud credits would be more expensive than owning a licence and a national or regional mapping agency that needs software it can run offline on classified or restricted imagery are not what OpenLayers is typically brought in for.
What can Correlator3D do that OpenLayers cannot?
Correlator3D covers Aerial triangulation, DSM and DTM generation, Orthomosaic production, Point cloud and 3D mesh output. OpenLayers covers Core Functionality, User Interface.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Correlator3D: Can I still buy a perpetual licence?

Yes. $5,900 for a permanent licence and $6,400 for a permanent floating licence, each including a year of support and updates.

OpenLayers: How much does OpenLayers cost?

OpenLayers is completely free, open source JavaScript library released under the 2-clause BSD License (FreeBSD License) with no cost for use, modification, or distribution.

Source
Correlator3D: What limits the standard licence?

Sensor resolution, up to 61 megapixels. Medium format, large format and satellite imagery need separately priced licences.

OpenLayers: What license does OpenLayers use?

OpenLayers is released under the 2-clause BSD License (also known as the FreeBSD License), allowing free use, modification, and distribution.

Source
Correlator3D: Is there a cloud version?

No. Processing runs on your own Windows workstation. SimActive offers a data processing service as an alternative to buying the software.

OpenLayers: Can I use OpenLayers commercially?

Yes, OpenLayers is free to use commercially without any licensing fees. The open source license permits commercial use without restriction.

Source
Correlator3D: Does it handle satellite imagery?

Yes, under a separate satellite licence class quoted on request.

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